Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Sunday, 12 March 2017
Android App for Zimsec Video Lessons
The long wait is over and the new android app for Zimsec Syllabi Video Tuition is set to be released this week. There are many websites and apps for Education in the region and many edupreneurs continue to add to the growing ecosystem. The most notable websites includes ruzivodigitallearning.com, revision.co.zw and other apps like e-dzidzo, wagona maths and greenbook app.
FEATURES OF THE NEW APP
Content
The App will have more than 1 000 step by step video lessons for ordinary level basic subjects including Maths, Integrated Science, Commerce, Principles of Accounts and Geography. The app will be launched with complete lessons for the first six months, that is, 24 topics covering mostly paper 1 ZIMSEC mathematics syllabus.
The content is being prepared by experienced teachers and virtual tutors who have a strong background in educational technology and pedagogues for online learning. Videos will demonstrate principles on a digital whiteboard using handwriting and they will be exercises at the end of each video lesson. They will be about 150 exercises for students in the first six months.
What makes this App cool is that, students are also able to submit their exercises for marking and feedback will be available in less than 12 hours. The app is just bringing a traditional classroom to your smartphone.
Also available are free ebooks for challenging topics like Transformations, Mensuration, Circle Geometry and Statistics in the app.
Video lessons for mathematics and ebooks have been tested on a pilot project for the past three years and yielded great results with 90% pass rate (14 candidates) in 2014 Nov exams, 77% pass rate (18 candidates) in 2015 Nov Exams, 97% (28 candidates) pass rate in June 2016 Exams and 79% pass rate (40 candidates) in November 2016 Exams.
Mathematics Videos will use a whiteboard and other content subjects will have animated content, video demonstrations and high quality pictures and charts that thoroughly explain principles. The app will emphasize on video content that has proved to be effective in the last three years.
They will be free videos for samples in almost all subjects. Subjects that will be added before June includes; English Language, Shona, Ndebele, Economics, Business Studies, Physics, Biology, Combined Science, Chemistry and Additional Mathematics.
Features
Tabs
The App has three main tabs, i.e., for Zimsec, Cambridge igcse, and South African NSC. Candidates will have a choice from a wide range of subjects, examination boards and tutors who will be offering video tuition. Analytics for pass rates, number of students, and student progress will be available soon
Coins
Students will unlock topics and monthly packages using coins that will be bought online using a wide range of payment options including Ecocash, Telecash, Visa, MasterCard and VPayments (Zimswitch). You are able to control your budget and decide how to use your coins within the app. There is a lot of flexibility in buying lessons from different topic,monthly packages and subjects.
Library
There will be a section whereby students access free and paid ebooks on different subjects from available resources. Only content from approved teachers and authors will be available in the app. The ebooks might be textbooks, lessons notes, exam tips, revisions notes and experiments
Tutor Chat Support
Students will be able to chat with the tutor if they need assistance in different areas of the lesson or topic. This will be like a traditional classroom where students can get individual help from teachers.
Download Option
The app will have a download option instead of streaming to avoid further data consumption when a student need to access previously bought video lessons. Videos will be downloaded and arranged in the app for easier access.
Video Demos
There are video demos on how to use the services provided by the app. The video demo includes how to unlock lessons, write exercises, submit exercises and access corrections within the app. This will make it easy for the students to learn like in a traditional classroom.
Name of the App
FigTree App
For Further details and assistance WhatsApp +263 733 796 118
Monday, 13 February 2017
HOW A TEACHER CAN MOTIVATE A CLASS
How to motivate your class or student
Mathematics is a challenging subject and needs some creative ways to motivate your students so that they enjoy learning maths. Here are some of the ways that can help you maintain their interest for the subject
#1 Always start with easiest questions
Easiest questions motivate students and give them hope of easily solving complex questions in the same manner.
Don't rush to test standard exam question, rather go step by step until they are ready for a complex question.
For example if you are teaching fractions, start with
- converting improper fractions to mixed fractions and vice versa
- Reducing fractions to lowest term
- Addition and subtraction of fractions with same denominator
- Now introduce different denominators
You can see that when they take it step by step, it makes subsequent concepts easier than to start with an exam type question. Learn to develop simple questions for basic concepts
#2 Find Many Options for a Problem
Not all students are comfortable with a single way of solving a math problem. There are other ways of solving the same problem. That's the beauty of mathematics, it involves many ways of dealing with the same thing
You will discover that when you use a 'one size fits all' approach, some students will start to lose heart and eventually quit the subject or totally lose interest for the subject.
Using at least two methods might motivate a student since one of the methods is obviously easier or shorter than the other. They might be both or all difficult but providing options makes the other method a life saver.
There is always a better way to deal with the same problem to different students
# Try Use some Teaching Aids or ICTs
Technology makes everything interesting.
Using ICTs in mathematics is one of the best ways to raise interest of students for the subject. There are many ways you can do this.
- a computer might demonstrate dice rolling
- Solitaire game might be useful for experimental probability
Some teaching aids that are use useful
- use cylinders and cuboids of same volume when teaching conversion of cubic centimeters to milliliters
Motivation is the source of success especially in Mathematics. That makes it one of the most interesting subject on Earth
HOW TO PREPARE FOR MATHEMATICS PAPER 1 (O LEVEL)
PREPARING FOR PAPER 1
The first paper is popular for being tricky and many candidates confirm they don't finish attempting questions within stipulated time. Today I will focus on how to prepare for the first paper and ways to perform better.
In one of the posts I wrote last year on my blog zimtuts.blogspot.com I highlighted how the first paper is designed to 'steal' your time and the biase of mark distribution. I will highlight new tricks in the next posts on paper 1.
# Tested concepts #
Paper 1 tests almost 90% of the syllabus in 25 - 30 questions. The syllabus specifies that the paper tests all the concepts. There is need to check the whole syllabus sections and compare with the textbook topics to see if it's covering the whole syllabus.
The basic topics tested in the beginning of the paper [question 1 - 13] involves
- Prime Factors
- Type of numbers
- Square roots
- Fractions and decimals
- Volume, density and mass
- Unit conversions
- Time
- Limit of accuracy
- Approximations and estimations
- Scale and map problems
- Similarity
Among other basic topics
Using New General Mathematics Book 3 and 4? Check if these basic topics are covered.
# How to Prepare for the Paper #
One of the reasons why candidates fail is they assume maths is all about complex questions and waste much of their time of optional topics like Cosine rule, transformation or Mensuration.
First start to master basic concepts. The first step in Maths is to know the operands and how they apply to every situation.
Try to master the following
- multiples (time - table or Multiples of 1 to 12)
- Factors of numbers up to 100
- Types of numbers
- Directed numbers
- Rounding numbers
- Addition and subtraction of time
- Formulas for areas and other basic calculations
- Conversions of units
You will find that most don't finish the paper because they fail to quickly calculate say 9 x 13, or 11 x 12. Someone scribble the whole answer space to calculate these types of basic multiplication.
It might sound fun but it's worth to start by mastering that multiple table at the back of the exercise books. Learn to memorize it by head. If possible expand it up to the multiples of 15 or 20. It will make your life easier in the next topics
The disadvantages of using Book 3 is that you miss most of the concepts covered in Book 1 and 2. It's advisable to first learn those basics before you start to use book 3.
Most teachers expect you to have covers majority of these topics at primary level or Junior Level. If you were not paying attention or did not cover the topics due to various reasons, consider revisiting the principles on your own time and learn the basic rules of numbers.
# What makes Prime Factors Important #
Finding Prime Factors of numbers is important since it helps you in many concepts including but not limited to
- finding roots
- Multiples
- Factors
- HCF and LCM
- Factorization
- Indices
Master how to express a number as product of its prime factors. It will save your life in many principles.
NB: Do you want to learn these basic principles? Ask for FREE video lessons on basic numbers on
WhatsApp +263 733 796 118
Saturday, 11 February 2017
NEW CURRICULUM UPDATES
It's been long without writing anything on new curriculum. There has been a lot of confusion over it, with some schools implementing the new curriculum to form 1 and 5 students, and other schools also including form 3s.
According to whats on the ground, the new curriculum first exam is likely to be next year and the current form 3 students will be pioneers of the exam. However, it's not clear how the pupils will be assessed since the new syllabus for the curriculum shows a coursework needs to start from form 1.
Schools have since introduced the new learning areas as required by the new curriculum. There are 7 compulsory subjects which included Heritage Studies, General Mathematics, General Science to name a few.
Students are expected to sit for at least 10 subjects, of which 7 are compulsory for every student. You will have to chose three options that will determine your study area at A Level. If someone intents to study Mathematics at A Level, there is Pure Mathematics and Statistics options at O Level.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS
1. New Exam structure next year
As I highlighted before, Mathematics is coming with new paper structure synonymous to that of Cambridge syllabus D whereby students have 4 options in Sections B (Old curriculum had 3 options) from 7 questions.
Teachers and Students needs to study the new Exam Structure. I hope ZIMSEC will provide the specimen papers next year for teachers and candidates to see the structure of the papers they will be sitting for.
2. Time Up for Cottage Colleges
The new curriculum needs a qualified staff who will be trained to assess students using new curriculum guidelines. Cottage Colleges with unqualified staff or that which is not properly registered needs to find ways to incorporate new developments if they are to prepare their students for ZIMSEC exams.
It's almost time up for Cottage Colleges.
3. Chose schools adopting preferred learning path
Since not all schools are adopting Sciences or Arts, it's advisable to look out for schools offering pure sciences as options. General Science or Mathematics don't qualify a student to study Science or Pure Mathematics at A level. One has to study pure chemistry, biology and physics. For maths you have to go with Pure Mathematics at O level
(To be Continued...)
Tuesday, 10 January 2017
2017 and the New Curriculum: Speculations and Facts
The new curriculum implementation is starting this year, 2017, with Forms 1 and 5.
The syllabus covers the years 2015 to 2022.
I received the document just yesterday and took my time reading through to get some sense about the new curriculum since there are many confusions around it. Many teachers, candidates and students are speculating that 2017 is the last year of writing final exams without coursework.
I have been coming across adverts on social media, posters and fliers written "Final Year to Write Exams As A Private Candidate! Enroll with us today and prepare". After reading the document, I wondered if the people speculating that have taken their time to read and study the new document on new curriculum and see the implications of the requirements.
My first discovery in the document was this, the new curriculum is starting with Form 1 and 5 students only. The continuous assessment for O Level starts from form 1 and is done in 11 terms, the 12th term is for the Exam. There will be topic tasks, Written Tests and End of Term Tests.
Each Year is contributing 4.5% for 4 years [thats 18%] and then two Projects, one for Form 1 & 2 and another for Form 3 & 4 [meaning this will contribute remaining 12% or its 6% each]
This means only form 1 students are eligible for the new assessment scheme and the rest should continue with old way of doing things. They will complete their O Levels without course work requirements.
This also literally means, Form 2 students are the last batch to write the exam without course work and they are not writing their final exams in 2017 as speculated by other people.
2017: Current Form 2
2018: they will be Form 3
2019: they will be in Form 4 [Final Exam]
2020: Continuos Assessment Completes. First Exam For the New Curriculum
Don't be fooled, you have other three years up to 2019 to write exams without coursework.
NB: The syllabus for Mathematics started 2015 and this means you should follow the current syllabus that ends 2022.
Hope you benefited a lot from this post. You can suggest corrections and additions to the post to make it a valuable pierce.
Comment your thoughts on this blog
If you have anything that you us to cover concerning Zimsec Syllabus and Examinations, please let me know on WhatsApp +263 733 796 118
Sunday, 8 January 2017
Basics Are Most Important
Many potential candidates fail simply because they ignore important things. They claim to have studied New General Mathematics Book 3 and 4, and follow the crowd's claim that it is the whole syllabus of Zimsec Mathematics. Zimsec don't test questions from a textbook but a syllabus. There is no one textbook that covers everything in a syllabus and it's advisable to refer to many sources.
There are four books if you prefer using New General Mathematics series. Start from Book 1 and learn all basic principles as enunciated by the syllabus. Majority of candidates think that it's easier to master O Level principles without covering the Junior Level Mathematics. O level principles build upon the foundations laid by Junior Course.
Basic Mathematics principles are widely tested in paper 1. Many people can testify that they wrote the exam without knowledge of estimations like significant figures and rounding off figures. Some O levels chose to ignore things like type of numbers, they don't even know even numbers, prime numbers and integers. These principles are tested in sets and limit of accuracy.
The tricky part of using Book 3 is that it has assumptions. It expects users of that book to have covered all principles in Book 1 and 2 , and continuously refers you back to their previous books in the series.
However, nowadays New General Mathematics, Although it's still considered the best book for O Level, there are other simplified books with more relevant information to the current syllabus. Look out for books like Maths Today and Revision O Level Mathematics.
My Advise
1. Start by learning basic principles of numbers, types and operations on numbers (BODMAS)
2. Master directed numbers
3. Learn how to estimate numbers to decimal places, significant numbers and place values
4. Learn basic algebra and formation of algebra from a given statement
5. Learn Mensuration in Junior course, it's also tested in paper 1
6. Learn how to use scientific calculator in fractions, decimals and graphs
7. Master units of measurements, capacity principles and time
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